Channel 3 (band)
Encyclopedia
Channel 3, also known as CH3, is a punk rock
band
from Cerritos, California
. Part of the Southern California
punk scene of the early 1980s, the band had a sound that was more melodic than many of their hardcore
contemporaries, and lyrics which ranged from thoughtful and satirical to bratty and self-indulgent. Songs like "You Make Me Feel Cheap" and "Separate Peace" were among the many sampled on punk compilations of the period, and the band's albums were modestly successful in both the U.S. and Europe.
After 1983 the band experimented with other styles, alienating many of its original fans. Eventually it returned to its roots, touring Europe in the 1990s and releasing a more punk-oriented CD in 2002.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Cerritos, California
Cerritos, California
Cerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
. Part of the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
punk scene of the early 1980s, the band had a sound that was more melodic than many of their hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
contemporaries, and lyrics which ranged from thoughtful and satirical to bratty and self-indulgent. Songs like "You Make Me Feel Cheap" and "Separate Peace" were among the many sampled on punk compilations of the period, and the band's albums were modestly successful in both the U.S. and Europe.
History
Channel 3 centered around the friendship of Mike Magrann (vocals, guitar) and Kimm Gardner (guitar), which dated back to the second grade. Forming in 1980, the foursome included Larry Kelley (bass) and Mike Burton (drums, later replaced by Jack DeBaun). They released an EP, Channel 3, in the summer of 1981 and began playing shows in the Los Angeles area. In the summer of 1982, their first album Fear of Life was released, and the band began their first US tour.After 1983 the band experimented with other styles, alienating many of its original fans. Eventually it returned to its roots, touring Europe in the 1990s and releasing a more punk-oriented CD in 2002.
Discography
These are the North American versions. The UK and German releases sometimes had different titles and configurations.- Channel 3 (EP, 1981, Posh BoyPosh Boy RecordsPosh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...
) - Fear of Life (LP,1982, Posh Boy)
- After the Lights Go Out (LP, 1983, Posh Boy)
- Airborne (LP, 1984)
- Last Time I Drank (LP, 1985)
- Rejected (LP, 1989)
- The Skinhead Years (CD, 1995, a reissue of Fear of Life and After the Lights Go Out)
- CH3 (CD, 2002, Dr. Strange RecordsDr. Strange RecordsDr. Strange Records is a record label and record store located in Alta Loma, California. It started out as an apartment-based distro in 1988 and became a record label in 1989, run out of the "Doc's" apartment until 1997 when the store was first opened....
)
Compilation appearances
- Rodney on the ROQ Volume 2 (1981)
- Includes "You Lie"
- The Future looks Bright (1981)
- Includes "Waiting in the Wings" and "Manzanar"
- American Youth ReportAmerican Youth ReportAmerican Youth Report is an American punk compilation originally released in 1982 and reissued on CD in 1991.-Track listing:# "One for All" - Modern Warfare# "Only Gonna Die" - Bad Religion# "Catholic Boy" - Channel 3# "Losing Battle" - Adolescents...
(1982)- Includes "Catholic Boy"
- Eastern Front Volume II (1982)
- Includes "Mannequin"
- Rodney on the ROQ Volume 3 (1982)
- Includes "Separate Peace"
- PoshPosh Boy RecordsPosh Boy Records was a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Robbie Fields, a high school substitute teacher and former copyboy at the L A Times who took an interest in the emerging punk rock scene in Orange County, California during the late 1970s...
Hits Volume 1 (1983)- Includes "You Make Me Feel Cheap"
- Something to Believe in (1984)
- Includes "Indian Summer"
- Enigma VariationsEnigma Variations (album)The Enigma Variations is a compilation album of newer artists that were on Enigma Records or one of its subsidiaries. It was originally released as a double LP and cassette, but was then subsequently also released as a CD with a reduced number of tracks. The album was compiled by Steve Pross and...
(1985)- Includes "True West"
- Old School Punk (1995)
- Includes "I've Got A Gun"